Biography of Hon. Henderson Massie

HON. HENDERSON MASSIE, whose fine farm in Pike Creek Valley, Carter County, is an object of admiration to the section, came originally from the Buckeye State, his birth occurring in Jackson County in 1833.

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His parents, Lewis and Sarah (Mackley) Massie, were natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively, the father born in 1797, and the mother in 1807. Mr. Massie came to Ohio when a young man, married there, and there made his home for many years. Late in life he moved to Carter County, Missouri, and here his wife died in 1875, and he in 1888 when about ninety years of age. They were members of the United Brethren Church until they came to Missouri, when they became Methodists. Mr. Massie followed farming all his life, and was an active, industrious and honest citizen. Aside from farming he was also in the iron works for some time. His father, Moses Massie, probably died in Ohio, and our subject has no recollection of him. He and his wife came from Virginia at an early day, and were the parents of a large family. Grandfather, John Mackley, came from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and died in Jackson County when his grandson, Henderson, was a small boy. He was also a farmer. One of his sons, David Mackley, was a prominent lawyer, and for some time edited the Jackson Standard at Jackson, Ohio. Henderson Massie was second in order of birth of twelve children, ten sons and two daughters: Anderson, who died in Reynolds County, Missouri, in 1893; Elihu, died young; Nathan, a farmer of Carter County; Loudon, of Lawrence County, Ohio, was a soldier in the Civil War, as were also Isaac, Gaines P. and Adam of the same county; Vincent, of Carter County; Alfred, died in Shannon County, Missouri; Mary, died in Lawrence County, Ohio, when a young lady, and one died in infancy.

On his father’s farm in Jackson County, Ohio, Henderson Massie grew to manhood, and in that county he received a limited education. When twenty-two years of age he was married in Lawrence County, Ohio, to Miss Margaret Evans, a native of Wales, but who came with her parents to this country when young. She was a member of the United Brethren Church, and died in Iron County, Missouri, in 1868.

Mr. and Mrs. Massie had born to their union eight children, as follows: Mary Frances, deceased; David Lewis, of Colorado; Jane, wife of Chris. Rumberg, of Shannon County, Missouri; Octavia, wife of Marion Vermillion; Maggie, wife of W. P. Thomason, of Shannon County; Sampson, died in infancy; Nathan, died young, and Henderson. On the 11th of February, 1869, Mr. Massie was married to Miss Sarah E. Stevenson, a native of Kentucky, and the daughter of John and Mary Stevenson, natives of the Blue Grass State also. Mr. and Mrs Stevenson came to Missouri in 1868, and the father died in Shannon, and the mother in Carter County. Mr. Massie’s second union resulted in the birth of four children: Sarah Ann, wife of John W. Thomas; Mary F., wife of John B. Vermillion; Rosa B., wife of Newton B. Smith; and Laura M. In 1865.

Mr. Massie came to Iron County, remained there one winter, and then removed to Carroll County, where he remained one year. He then returned to Iron County, worked in the Pilot Knob Iron Furnace for about a year, after which he came to Carter County. Here he has since lived, engaged in farming, on his 240-acre tract. He also owns 160 acres in Shannon County, and has about 100 acres under cultivation. While a resident of Ohio Mr. Massie followed making charcoal, and his property is the result. For fourteen years he was an almost constant member of the Carter County Court, eight years of which he was presiding judge. He has always been a Republican in his political views, but has been no politician, never caring for office. He and Mrs. Massie are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a Mason, a member of Van Buren Lodge No. 509.

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A Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region: comprising a condensed general history, a brief descriptive history of each county, and numerous biographical sketches of prominent citizens of such counties. Chicago: Goodspeed Brothers Publishers. 1894.